Hot Links: Monday, January 13

Morning, folks! Certainly not a good one, given the weather. This current cold snap amounts to cruel and unusual punishment after Saturday’s result, with those medicine stealing mugs moving into first place in the division on the back of their 4-3 win over our heroes.

Edmonton’s been reeling since, too. It’s so cold here you could reasonably convince someone that this is hell, and it has indeed frozen over.

Zack Kassian gets a hearing for his outburst on Saturday night, while his counterpart, Matthew Tkachuk, gets a handshake, a high five, and a few bum taps for his successful gaming of the NHL’s objectively pathetic officiating.

It is always and forever worth knowing that Tkachuk leads the league in drawn penalties over the last few seasons, because no fact better illustrates the ass-backwardness of the NHL and its priorities. I cannot stress this enough, but in absolutely no worlds should he outdraw the fastest player to ever play the game. Ever. It makes zero sense UNLESS you understand that the NHL is more concerned with managing games than it is calling them.

It is still a joke league and we continue to be the punchlines for giving it so much of our time.

But when it’s -100°C outside, what else are we gonna do?! Snowboard like some hippies?!

The silver lining with Kassian’s hearing and likely suspension is that it may force the Oilers into bringing up Tyler Benson. With Kailer Yamamoto’s recall going so well and creating an actual second line for the Oilers, it’s hard to see Holland and Tippett opting for one of Sam Gagner or Jujhar Khaira to draw in instead of Bakersfield’s most productive player over the last 100+ GP. It’s Tyler time. It has to be.

Edmonton gets Nashville tomorrow in their first game back at home after their (still) successful 3-1-1 road trip. Mike Smith will likely draw in after a run of wins and a bit of an uptick in form (very bit, mind you) and Koskinen’s struggles on Saturday night. See you then.

From Us

Last Night’s First Star! (Copper and Blue)

Game Recap: Oilers Lose Battle of Alberta 4-3 (Copper and Blue)

GAME THREAD: Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames (Copper and Blue)

Trade Talk Pt. 2: Trade Targets (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

Is Tyler Benson’s Time Now? (Oilers Rig)

Monday Mailbag – What’s Changed With Kailer Yamamoto? (Oilersnation)

Oilers Prospect Update: Stairway To Evan (Oilersnation)

Cam Talbot Never Had A Prayer On McDavid’s Breakaway (Sun)

Edmonton Oilers Forward Zack Kassian Will Likely Be Suspended For Going After Tkachuk (Sun)

Tkachuk-Kassian Feud Adds Fire To Already Heated Battle Of Alberta (CBC)

The Battle Of Alberta Is Alive (Oilersnation)

Edmonton Oilers In Line For Future NHL Outdoor Game (Oilersnation)

Old School (Oilersnation)

For Money

Lowetide: Oilers Prospect Pipeline Could Deliver Below-Average Group In 2020-21 (Athletic)

Several Factors Led To Oilers’ Zack Kassian’s Inevitable Hearing With NHL Player Safety (Athletic)

Zack Kassian calls Matthew Tkachuk a ‘p****,’ says he’d go after him again despite Oilers’ loss (Athletic)